The International Press Institute, which has operations in 100 countries, has written an open letter to the Kenyan government asking the State to stop assaulting journalists.
The organisation on Thursday indicated that since the protests pushing back against the Finance Bill kicked off on June 18, it has documented cases of assault against 12 journalists.
The recorded assaults were in the forms of assault, arrest and detention, and the damaging of equipment by both the security forces and the protestors.
In one incident, a journalist attached to the Standard Group, Justus Mwangi, was thrown out of a moving police vehicle while covering the protests.
Other media practitioners who have faced assaults include; Sammy Kimatu of Nation, journalists Joe Muhia and Iddi Ali Juma of the Associated Press, Columnist Gabriel Oguda, Collins Olunga of Agence France-Presse (AFP), Ben Kirui of Citizen TV, and KBC videographer John Omido.
IPI Advocacy and Partnerships Lead Nompilo Simanje noted that the assaults mirrored those recorded in March 2023 during the opposition's protests over increased prices of basic commodities.
“IPI is alarmed by the documented attacks on press freedom during the ongoing public protests in Kenya, a trend which was similarly noted during protests in the country in March 2023," Simanje stated.
“The police continue to attack journalists with impunity under the guise of dispersing protestors and it is high time the perpetrators were held accountable. Rather than target the press, the police should instead guarantee the safety of journalists and allow them to carry out their role of collecting and sharing information, which is itself critical for public order and security.”
On June 18, Standard reported that Mwangi, who is a video editor at the station, was arrested on claims that he was filming the police officers.
Other journalists who were in his company explained to the police in his defence and the authorities ended up ejecting him from a moving vehicle. He fell on the streets.
“We are closely following the situation of the protests over the Finance Bill. We are saddened by the attacks on journalists covering the protests and call on the authorities to respect press freedom."
"The attacks should stop and action should be taken against those who have attacked and injured journalists," William Oloo, the Secretary General of the Congress of African Journalists.
Statistics shared by human rights groups indicate that tens of Kenyans have lost their lives since the protests began but President William Ruto on Wednesday claimed that only six people had passed away.
